Human endometriosis is associated with plasma cells and overexpression of B lymphocyte stimulator.

Endometriosis affects 10-20% of women of reproductive age and is associated with pelvic pain and infertility, and its pathogenesis is not well understood. We used genomewide transcriptional profiling to characterize endometriosis and found that it exhibits a gene expression signature consistent with an underlying autoimmune mechanism. Endometriosis lesions are characterized by the presence of abundant plasma cells, many of which produce IgM, and macrophages that produce BLyS/BAFF/TNFSF13B, a member of the TNF superfamily implicated in other autoimmune diseases.

Effects of RNA degradation on gene expression analysis of human postmortem tissues.

The Affymetrix GeneChip platform was used to build a gene expression database of the normal human body. Postmortem human tissues represent a valuable source of biological materials for this type of study, but their use entails some delays before harvesting such tissues. We first evaluated the RNA quality obtained from tissues obtained 3-5 h postmortem and found variations that were both tissue and donor-dependent.

Ets2 is not required for Ras or Neu/ErbB-2 mediated cellular transformation in vitro.

Ets2 is a widely expressed Ets family transcription factor which is activated by Ras signaling and has been reported to transform fibroblasts. Expression of a dominant inhibitory Ets2 construct consisting of just the Ets2 DNA binding domain (Ets2DBD), reverses Ras transformation of NIH3T3 cells and the transformed characteristics of several human tumor cells. However, the Ets2DBD may interfere with multiple Ets family members.

Benzo[b]-1,8-naphthyridine derivatives: synthesis and reversal activity on multidrug resistance.

A series of benzo[b]-1,8-naphthyridine derivatives branched with various side-chains and substituents were prepared with the aim of being investigated as multidrug resistance (MDR) modulators. The syntheses were achieved from 2-halonicotinic acid and suitable aryl-amines according to a three-step procedure. All the derivatives were tested in vitro on mouse T-Lymphoma cell line L5178 transfected by MDR1 gene and the chemosensitizing properties of the compounds were compared to those of verapamil and propranolol, as well as to several other tricyclic derivatives like phenothiazines and acridines.